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King Lear's palace.
[Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND]
KENT
I thought the king had more affected the Duke of Albany, than Cornwall.
GLOUCESTER
It did always seem so to us: but now in the division of the kingdom, it
appears not which of the dukes he values most, for qualities are so weighed,
that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety.
KENT
Is not this your son, my lord?
GLOUCESTER
His breeding sir, hath been at my charge. I have so often blushed to
acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it.
KENT
I cannot conceive you.
GLOUCESTER
Sir, this young fellow's mother could; whereupon she grew round-wombed, and
had indeed (sir) a son for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed. Do
you smell a fault?
KENT
I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it, being so proper.
GLOUCESTER
But I have a son, sir, by order of law, some year elder than this; who, yet
is no dearer in my account, though this knave came something saucily into
the world before he was sent for: yet was his mother fair, there was good
sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this
noble gentleman, Edmund?
EDMUND
No, my lord.
GLOUCESTER
My lord of Kent:
Remember him hereafter, as my honorable friend.
EDMUND
My services to your lordship.
KENT
I must love you, and sue to know you better.
EDMUND
Sir, I shall study deserving.
GLOUCESTER
He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. The king is coming.
[Sennet. Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and
Attendants]
LEAR
Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.
GLOUCESTER
I shall, my liege.
[Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND]
LEAR
, ,
2 ,
, ,
Meantime / we shall ex|press our | darker |
purpose.
, 2
T T T
, 2 ,
2->
Give me the | map there. Know,| that we | have
divid||ed
, ,
, 2 , ,
In three | our king|dom: and |'tis our fast |
intent,
. T T
T , ,
,
To shake all cares | and bus|iness from | our
age,
,
, , ,
,
Confer|ring them | on young|er strengths,| while*
we
, ,
T T T T .
T T
Unburd|ened crawl | toward death. Our | son of
Cornwall
,
, , ,
, ,
And you | our no | less lov|ing son | of
Al|bany, (hex with prev)
, ,
, ,
, 2->
We have | this hour | a const|ant will | to
pub||lish
, , x
, ,
Our daught|ers' seve|ral dowers,| that fu|ture
strife
, , ,
, ,
, ,
May be prevented now. The princes, France and
Burgundy, ????
, ,
, ,
,
Great riv/als in | our young|est daught|er's
love,
, 2
, ,
, 2 ,
Long in our | court, have | made their | amorous
| sojourn*,
, , 2
, , 2
,
And here | are to be | answered.| Tell me my |
daughters
, ,
, ,
,
(Since now / we will | divest | us both | of
rule,
, 2 ,
, ,
,
Interest | of ter|rito|ry, cares | of state)
,
, ,
, ,
Which of | you shall | we say | doth^love | us
most,
,
, ,
, ,
That we,| our large|st boun|ty may | extend
,
, x ,
, 2
Where na|ture doth | with merit | challenge.|
Goneril,
, , ___
___
Our eld|est-born,| speak | first.
GONERIL
<- ,
, ,
, ,
,
Sir, I || love you | more than | words can |
wield the | matter;
, ,
T T . T
,
Dearer | than eye|sight, space, and lib|erty;
, ,
, ,
,
Beyond | what can | be val|ued, rich | or rare,
, ,
. T T T
x
No less | than life,| with grace, health,
beaut|y, honor; ??
, . T
T T ,
,
As much | as child ere loved,| or fath|er found.
, ,
T T . T
x
A love | that makes | breath poor, and speech |
unable,
, , ,
2 , ,
Beyond | all man/ner of so*| much I | love you.
CORDELIA
, 2
, 2 , ,
,
What shall Cor|delia | speak? Love,/ and be |
silent.
LEAR
. T T T
, T
T . T
Of all these bounds | eene from* | this line, to
this,
,
2 , , ,
,
With shad|owy for|ests,^and | with
cham|pains^riched
, 2 ,
, , ,
With plent|eous riv|ers, and / wide-skirt|ed
meads
, ,
x , 2
x
We make | thee la|dy. To thine | and Alb|any's
issues
, ,
, , ,
Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter?
????
,
, ,
, __
Our dear|est Reg|an, wife | to Corn|wall?
REGAN
2 ,
, , x 2
,
I am made | of that / self-same | metal as my |
sister,
, T . T
T , ,
And prize | me at her worth.| In my / true heart,
, ,
, ,
,
I find | she names | my ve|ry deed | of love:
, 2 T T
T , ,
Only she | comes too short,| that I | profess
,
, , . T Tx T
Myself | an en|emy | to all other joys, ??
, 2 ,
, ,
,
Which the most^|precious | square of | sense
pro|fesses, ??
, ,
, , ,
And find | I am | alone | feli|citate
2
, ,
,
In your dear | highness' | love.
CORDELIA
, , 2
Then* | poor Cor|delia,
. T T T
, ,
,
And yet not so,| since^I | am sure | my love's
, ,
, ____
More pon/derous | than my | tongue.
LEAR
,
, , , x
To thee,| and thine | here|dita|ry ever,
, , ,
2 , ,
Remain | this amp|le third | of our fair |
kingdom,
, ,
, , ,
2->
No less | in space,| valid|ity,| and plea||sure
, ,
, ,
,
Than that | conferred | on Gone|ril. Now | our
joy,
, ,
, . T T T
Although | our last | and least;| to whose young
love,
, ,
, ,
,
The vines | of France,| and milk | of Bur|gundy,
, 2
2 , , ,
,
Strive to be | interessed;| what can / you say,|
to draw
, , 2
, ,
,
A third,| more^op|ulent than | your sis|ters?
Speak.
CORDELIA
,
,
Nothing | my lord.
LEAR
,
Nothing?
CORDELIA
, oo
Nothing.|
LEAR
,
, , , ,
Nothing | will come | of noth|ing, speak | again.
CORDELIA
,
, , ,
,
Unhap|py that | I am,| I can|not heave
, ,
2 , ,
, 2
My heart | into my | mouth. I | love your |
majesty
,
, ,
, ,
accord|ing to | my bond,| no more | nor less.
LEAR
,
, 2 , ,
x
How*, how | Corde|lia? Mend | your speech | a
little,
,
, ,
Lest you | may mar | your for|tunes.
CORDELIA
, ,
Good | my lord,
, ,
T T T ,
You have | begot | me, bred me,| loved me.
2 ,
, ,
, ,
I return | those^dut|ies back | as are / right
fit,
, ,
, , ,
Obey | you, love | you, and / most hon|or you.
,
, ,
, ,
Why have | my sis|ters hus|bands, if | they say
,
, , 2 ,
,
They love | you all?| Happily | when I | shall
wed,
, ,
, , ,
->
That lord,| whose^hand | must^take | my plight,|
shall car||ry
,
, 2
, ,
, ->
Half | my love | with him, half | my care,| and
du||ty,
, 2
x ,
, ,
Sure | I shall never | marry | like my | sisters,
, , ,
To love | my fath|er all. \\
LEAR
,
, ,
But goes | thy heart | with this?
CORDELIA
, ,
Aye* good | my lord.
LEAR
, , ,
2->
So young,| and so | unten||der?
CORDELIA
,
, ,
So young | my lord,| and true. (tri
with prev)
LEAR
, ,
, ,
x
Let it | be so,| thy truth | then* be | thy
dower:
, ,
, 2 ,
,
For by | the sac|red rad|iance of | the sun,
, ,
, ,
,
The mys|teries | of Hec|ate and | the night;
,
, , ,
,
By all | the op|era|tion of | the orbs,
, ,
, , ,
From whom | we do | exist,| and cease | to be,
,
, ,
, ,
Here I | disclaim | all my | pater|nal care,
, ,
, , ,
Propin|quity | and prop|erty | of blood,
,
, , , ,
And as | a strang|er to | my heart | and me,
,
, 2 x
, 2 , 2
Hold thee | from this for|ever. The | barbarous |
Scythian,
, , ,
, x
Or he | that makes | his gen|era|tion messes
, , ,
, 2 ,
To gorge | his ap|petite,| shall to my | bosom
, ,
, ,
,
Be as / well neigh|bored, pit|ied, and |
relieved,
, ,
,
As thou | my some|time^daught|er.
KENT
, ,
Good | my liege.
LEAR
___ __
Peace | Kent, \\
, ,
, ,
,
Come^not | between | the drag|on and | his wrath,
, ,
, ,
,
I loved | her most,| and thought | to set | my
rest
, ,
, 2 ,
,
On her / kind nurse|ry. Hence | and avoid | my
sight:
,
, , ,
,
So be | my grave | my peace,| as here | I give
, ,
2 , T
T T
Her fath|er's heart | from her; Call | France,
who stirs?
, ,
T T . T ,
Call* Bur|gundy,| Cornwall, and Al|bany,
, ,
x ,
,
With my / two daught|ers' dowers,| digest | the
third,
,
, ,
, ,
Let^pride,| which she | calls^plain|ness, mar|ry
her:
,
, , ,
x
I do | invest | you joint|ly with | my power,
, , ,
, ,
Pre-em|inence,| and all | the large | effects
, ,
, ,
,
That troop with majesty. Ourself by monthly
course, ????
, ,
, , ,
With res|erva|tion of | a hund|red knights,
,
, ,
, ,
By you | to be | sustained,| shall our | abode
, ,
, , ,
,
Make^with | you by / due turns,| only | we shall
| retain
,
, 2 , ,
, ,
The name,| and all | the addi|tion to | a king:|
the sway, (hex with prev)
, , ,
, ,
Reve|nue, ex|ecu|tion of | the rest,
,
, ,
, ,
Belov|ed sons | be yours,| which to | confirm,
, 2
, ,
This cor|onet part | between you.
KENT
, ,
Roy|al Lear,
, ,
, ,
,
Whom I | have ev|er hon|ored as | my king,
, 2
, , ,
,
Loved as my | father,| as my | master | followed,
, ,
, , ,
As my / great pat|ron thought | on in | my
prayers.
LEAR
, ,
, ,
,
The bow | is bent | and drawn,| make from | the
shaft.
KENT
, ,
, ,
,
Let it / fall rath|er, though | the fork | invade
, 3
3 , ,
, ,
The reg|ion of my heart,| be Kent | unman|nerly,
,
, , 2
T T T
When Lear | is mad,| what wilt thou | do old man?
,
, , ,
,
Thinkst thou | that du|ty shall | have dread | to
speak,
x ,
2 ,
When power | to flat|tery bows?
, ,
,
To plain|ness hon|or's bound, (tri with
prev)
, 2 ,
x , ,
When maj|esty stoops | to folly,| reserve | thy
state,
, 2
, , ,
,
And in thy | best con|side|ration | check
<- , 2 ,
, 2 , ,
This || hideous | rashness,| answer my | life,
my | judgment:
,
, ,
, ,
Thy young|est daught|er does | not love | thee
least,
, ,
, ,
,
Nor are | those^emp|ty-heart|ed, whose / low
sound
, ,
,
Reverbs | no hol|lowness.
LEAR
,
, ,
Kent, on | thy life | no more. (tri with prev)
KENT
,
, , ,
,
My life | I nev|er held | but as | a pawn
, x
, 2 , x
To wage | against thy | enemies,| nor fear | to
lose it,
, x
,
Thy safe|ty being | the mot|ive.
LEAR
, 2 ,
Out | of my sight.
KENT
T Tx T
, ,
,
See better Lear,| and let | me still | remain
, ,
,
The true | blank of | thine eye.
LEAR
, 2 ,
Now by A|pollo,
KENT
, ,
,
Now by | Apol|lo, king
, ,
,
Thou swearst | thy gods | in vain. (tri
with prev)
LEAR
T Tx T
,
O vassal! Mis|creant.
ALBANY and CORNWALL
, ,
Dear* sir | forbear.
KENT
,
, ,
, ,
Kill thy | physi|cian, and | thy fee | bestow
, ,
, ,
,
Upon | thy foul | disease,| revoke | thy gift;
,
, , ,
,
Or whilst | I can / vent clam|or from | my
throat,
, ,
x
I'll tell | thee thou | dost^evil. \\
LEAR
,
, 2 , 2
, ,
Hear me | recreant,| on thine^al|legiance | hear
me;
, ,
, ,
,
That thou | hast sought | to make | us break |
our vows,
,
, ,
, ,
Which^we | durst^nev|er yet;| and with / strained
pride,
, ,
, 2 ,
x
To come | betwixt | our sent|ences, and | our
power,
,
, ,
, ,
Which, nor | our na|ture, nor | our place | can
bear;
,
, , ,
,
Our po|tency*/ made good,| take thy | reward.
, ,
, , 2
,
Five days / we do | allot | thee for pro|vision,
,
, ,
, ,
To shield | thee from | disea|ses of | the world,
,
, ,
, ,
And on | the sixth | to turn | thy hat|ed back
, ,
, 2 , ,
,
Upon | our king|dom; if,| on the tenth | day
fol/lowing,
, , ,
, ,
o
Thy ban|ished trunk | be found | in our |
domin|ions, (hex with prev)
, 3 3
, , ,
,
The mom|ent is thy death,| away.| By Jup|iter,
, T T .
T
This shall | not be revoked. \\
KENT
, ,
, ,
,
Fare* thee / well king,| sith^thus | thou wilt |
appear,
,
T T . T ,
,
Freedom | lives hence, and ban|ishment | is here;
,
, ,
, ,
The gods | to their / dear shelt|er take | thee
maid,
,
, ,
, ,
That just|ly thinkst,| and hast / most right|ly
said:
,
, ,
, ,
And your / large speech|es, may | your deeds |
approve,
,
, , ,
,
That good | effects | may spring | from words |
of love:
, ,
, ,
,
Thus Kent,| O princ|es, bids | you all | adieu,
,
, ,
, ,
He'll shape | his old | course, in | a count|ry
new.
[Exit. Flourish. Enter GLOUCESTER, with KING OF FRANCE, BURGUNDY, and
Attendants]
GLOUCESTER
,
, , ,
,
Here's^France | and Bur|gundy,| my nob|le lord.
LEAR
,
, ,
My lord | of Bur|gundy, \\
, .
T T T ,
,
We first | address towards you,| who with / this
king
,
, , ,
2 ,
Hath riv|alled for | our daught|er; what | in the
least
, ,
, x
,
Will you | require | in pres|ent dower | with
her,
, ,
,
Or cease | your quest | of love?
BURGUNDY
, , ,
Most roy|al maj|esty, (tri with prev)
, ,
, ,
x
I crave | no more | than what | your high|ness
offered,
,
, ,
Nor will | you tend|er less?
LEAR
, ,
,
Right^nob|le Bur|gundy, (tri with
prev)
,
, 2 ,
, ,
When she | was dear | to us, we | did hold | her
so,
, , x
, ,
But now | her price | is fallen:| Sir*, there |
she stands,
, ,
x ,
,
If aught | within | that little | seeming |
substance,
,
, ,
, ,
Or all | of it | with our | displeas|ure pieced,
,
, ,
, ,
And noth|ing more | may fit|ly like | your grace,
, , 2
,
She's^there,| and she is | yours.
BURGUNDY
,
,
I | know no | answer.
LEAR
,
, ,
, ,
Will you | with those | infirm|ities | she owes,
, ,
, ,
,
Unfriend|ed, new-|adop|ted to | our hate,
x
, , ,
,
Dowered with | our curse,| and strang|ered with |
our oath,
,
,
Take her,| or leave | her.
BURGUNDY
, 2 , ,
pard|on me roy|al sir,
,
, , ,
, 2->
Elec|tion makes | not up | on such |
condi||tions.
LEAR
, ,
, 2 x
,
Then leave | her sir,| for by the | power that |
made me,
, ,
, . T T
T
I tell | you all | her wealth.| For you great
king,
, , , T
T . T
I would / not from | your love | make such a
stray,
, ,
, , 2
,
To match | you where | I hate,| therefore*
be|seech you
2 ,
, , ,
2 ,
To avert | your lik|ing a / more worth|ier way,
,
, , ,
,
Than on | a wretch | whom na|ture is | ashamed
,
2 , ,
Almost | to acknow|ledge hers.
KING OF FRANCE
, ,
This is / most strange,
,
x , , ,
That she | whom even | but now,| was your /
object,
, 2
, , ,
,
The arg|ument^of | your praise,| balm of | your
age,
, x
, ,
,
The best,| the dearest,| should in | this trice |
of time
, ,
, , 2 ,
Commit | a thing | so monst/rous, to dis|mantle
, ,
, ,
2 ,
So man|y folds | of fav|or: sure | her offense
,
, , ,
,
Must be | of such | unnat|ural | degree,
,
, 2 ,
, ,
That monst|ers it:| or your fore-|vouched
af|fection
x
, ,
, ,
Fallen in|to taint,| which to | believe | of her
, 2
, ,
, , 2
Must be a | faith that | reason | without |
miracle
, ,
,
Should nev|er plant | in me. \\
CORDELIA
,
, , , oo
I yet | beseech | your maj|esty.|
, ,
, ,
,
If for | I want | that glib | and oi|ly art,
, ,
, ,
, ,
To speak and purpose not, since what I well
intend, ????
x
, ,
, ,
I'll do it | before | I speak,| that you / make
known
2 ,
, ,
, ,
It is no | vicious | blot, mur/der, or |
foulness,
, ,
, ,
,
No un|chaste ac/tion or | dishon|ored step
,
, , ,
x
That hath | deprived | me of | your grace | and
favor,
x ,
, , 2 x
But even | for want | of that,| for which | I am
richer, (or hex with prev)
, , 2
, , ,
A still-|soli|citing eye,| and such | a tongue,
, ,
2 , , x
That I | am glad | I have not,| though not | to
have it,
, ,
,
Hath lost | me in | your lik|ing.
LEAR
x ,
Better | thou hadst
,
, ,
2 , ,
Not been | born than | not to have | pleased me |
better.
KING OF FRANCE
x ,
, ,
,
Is it but | this? A | tardi|ness in | nature,
,
, ,
, ,
Which of|ten leaves | the hist|ory / unspoke
, 2
, ,
, , 2
That it in|tends to | do: my | lord of | Burgundy*,
, , 2
, T T
T
What say | you to the | lady?| Love's not love
, ,
, , ,
When it | is min|gled with | regards,| that stand
, ,
2 , ,
,
Aloof | from the en|tire point,/ will you | have
her?
, ,
,
She is | herself | a dow|ry.
BURGUNDY
, ,
Roy|al King,
, ,
, ,
,
Give^but | that por|tion which | yourself |
proposed,
,
, , 2 ,
,
And here | I take | Corde|lia by | the hand,
,
, ,
Duchess | of Bur|gundy.
LEAR
,
2 , 2
,
Nothing,| I have sworn,| I am firm. (tri with
prev)
BURGUNDY
2 , ,
2 , ,
,
I am sor|ry then | you have so | lost a | father,
, 2 ,
,
That you must | lose a | husband.
CORDELIA
, 2 ,
2
Peace be* with | Burgundy*, ??
,
, ,
, ,
Since that | respect | and for|tunes are | his
love,
, ,
,
I shall | not be | his wife. \\
KING OF FRANCE
,
, 2 , ,
2 ,
Fairest | Cordel|ia that art / most rich | being
poor,
, ,
, ,
,
Most^choice | forsak|en, and / most loved |
despised,
,
, ,
, ,
Thee and | thy vir|tues here | I seize | upon,
2 ,
, , , ,
Be it law|ful I / take up | what's cast | away.
T T
. T , ,
,
Gods, gods! 'tis^strange,| that from | their
coldst | neglect
, ,
, ,
,
My love | should kind|le to | inflamed | respect.
x ,
, ,
,
Thy dower|less daught|er king,| thrown to | my
chance,
,
, , ,
,
Is queen | of us,| of ours,| and our / fair
France:
, ,
, 2 , ,
Not all | the dukes | of wat|erish Bur|gundy,
, .
T T T ,
,
Can buy | this^unprized pre|cious maid | of me.
,
, ,
, ,
Bid them | farewell | Cordel|ia, though | unkind,
,
, , ,
,
Thou lose|st here | a bet|ter where | to find.
LEAR
, ,
, ,
,
Thou hast | her France,| let her | be thine,| for
we
, ,
, , ,
Have no | such daught|er, nor | shall ev|er see
,
, , ,
,
That face | of hers | again,| therefore | be
gone,
, ,
, ,
,
Without | our grace,| our love,| our be|nison:
T Tx T
,
Come noble Bur|gundy. \\
[Flourish. Exeunt all but KING OF FRANCE, GONERIL, REGAN, and CORDELIA]
KING OF FRANCE
,
, ,
Bid fare|well to | your sis|ters.
\\
CORDELIA
x
2 , ,
,
The jewels | of our fath|er, with / washed eyes
<- , ,
T T T ,
,
Cordel||ia leaves | you, I know | you what |
you are,
, ,
, ,
,
And like | a sis|ter am / most loath | to call
,
, 2 ,
, ,
Your faults | as they are | named. Love^|well our
| father:
,
, , ,
x
To your | profes|sed bos|oms I | commit him,
, ,
, ,
,
But yet | alas,| stood^I | within | his grace,
,
, , ,
,
I would | prefer | him to | a bet|ter place,
T T T
2 ,
So farewell | to you both. \\
REGAN
, ,
,
Prescribe | not^us | our dut|ies.
GONERIL
,
, ->
Let | your stu||dy
, 2 ,
, , 2 ,
Be | to content | your lord,| who hath re|ceived
you
, ,
, , 2 ,
o
At for|tune's alms,| you have | obed|ience
scan|ted,
, ,
, ,
, o
And well | are worth | the want | that you | have
wan|ted. (hex with prev)
CORDELIA
,
, , ,
,
Time shall | unfold | what plait|ed cun|ning
hides,
, ,
, ,
,
Who cov|er faults,| at last | shame them |
derides:
, 2
,
Well may you | prosper.
KING OF FRANCE
, ,
, 2
Come my | fair Cor|delia.
[Exeunt KING OF FRANCE and CORDELIA]
GONERIL
,
, x
, ,
Sister,| it is / not little | I have | to say,
,
, , ,
2 ,
Of what | most near|ly ap|pertains | to us both,
,
, , ,
___
I think | our fath|er will | hence to|night.
REGAN
That's most certain, and with you: next month with us.
GONERIL
You see how full of changes his age is, the observation we have made of it
hath not been little; he always loved our sister most, and with what poor
judgment he hath now cast her off, appears too grossly.
REGAN
'Tis the infirmity of his age, yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself.
GONERIL
The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash, then must we look to
receive from his age, not alone the imperfections of long-engraffed
condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness, that infirm and choleric
years bring with them.
REGAN
Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him as this of Kent's
banishment.
GONERIL
There is further compliment of leavetaking between France and him, pray you
let's hit together, if our father carry authority with such dispositions as
he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us.
REGAN
We shall further think on it.
GONERIL
We must do something, and in the heat.
[Exeunt]